Sermon Tone Analysis

THINGS WE DON’T TALK ABOUT IN CHURCH

SERMON 7

THE REALITY OF HELL

INTRODUCTION:

GOLFER PAYNE STEWART’S JET CRASHED IN 1999.

IT APPEARS THAT THE PILOT AND COPILOT WENT UNCONSCIOUS DURING THE FLIGHT.

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS WERE UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE PILOTS, AND TWO AIR FORCE JETS WERE SENT TO INVESTIGATE.

AS THEY PULLED ALONGSIDE STEWART’S JET THEY COULD NOT SEE ANY MOVEMENT IN THE COCKPIT, BUT THEY COULD SEE THAT THE WINDOWS WERE FOGGED UP.

IT APPEARS THAT SOMEHOW THE CABIN LOST PRESSURE ALLOWING COLD AIR FROM THE STRATOSPHERE IN THE PLANE.

AFTER THE PLANE RAN OUT OF FUEL IT PLUNGED TO THE EARTH BELOW.

ONE OF THE PILOTS WHO FLEW ALONGSIDE THE PLANE SAID, “IT’S A VERY HELPLESS FEELING TO PULL ALONGSIDE ANOTHER AIRCRAFT AND REALIZE THE PEOPLE INSIDE THAT AIRCRAFT POTENTIALLY ARE UNCONSCIOUS OR IN SOME OTHER WAY INCAPACITATED.

AND THERE’S NOTHING I CAN DO PHYSICALLY FROM MY AIRCRAFT EVEN THOUGH I’M FIFTY TO ONE HUNDRED FEET AWAY, TO HELP THEM AT ALL.

PICTURE THE LOST AS A RUNAWAY AIRPLANE WITH NOTHING TO STOP THEM FROM PLUNGING INTO HELL UNLESS YOU SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH THEM.

ONE OF THE LEAST DISCUSSED REALITIES IN SCRIPTURE IS THE REALITY OF HELL.

WE DON’T TALK ABOUT IT ENOUGH IN CHURCH, OR AT HOME, OR ANYWHERE ELSE, BUT WE SHOULD.

SO LET’S TAKE A FEW MINUTES THIS MORNING TO TRY TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REALITY OF HELL.

HERE’S THE FIRST QUESTION…

1. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A PERSON DIES?

a. SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE IN WHAT IS REFERRED TO AS “SOUL SLEEP.”

i. THIS IS THE BELIEF THAT AFTER DEATH, THE SOUL ENTERS A STATE OF UNCONSCIOUS REST UNTIL THE RESURRECTION.

ii.

THIS CONCEPT COMES, IN PART, FROM A METAPHOR OFTEN USED TO DESCRIBE DEATH – THE SLEEP METAPHOR.

1. – FOR THIS CAUSE MANY ARE WEAK AND SICKLY AMONG YOU, AND MANY SLEEP.

2. – BEHOLD!

I TELL YOU A MYSTERY.

WE SHALL NOT ALL SLEEP, BUT WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED,

3. – FOR SINCE WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS DIED AND ROSE AGAIN, EVEN SO, THROUGH JESUS, GOD WILL BRING WITH HIM THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP.

i. BUT THE WORD SLEEP, USED IN THIS CONTEXT, IS A REFERENCE TO PHYSICAL DEATH.

b.

OTHERS BELIEVE IN WHAT IS SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS ANNIHILATIONISM.

i. THIS IS THE BELIEF THAT AT DEATH, A PERSON SIMPLY CEASES TO EXIST.

ii.

THAT PHYSICAL DEATH IS THE END, AND THERE IS NOTHING AFTER IT.

c. BUT THE BIBLE TEACHES THAT AFTER A PERSON DIES, HE OR SHE, APART FROM THE BODY WHICH IS IN THE GRAVE, ENTERS INTO GOD’S PRESENCE, PROVIDED THAT PERSON BELONGS TO CHRIST.

d.